Design, synthesis, and a novel application of quorum-sensing agonists as potential drug-delivery vehicles

J Drug Target. 2011 Aug;19(7):528-39. doi: 10.3109/1061186X.2010.519032. Epub 2010 Sep 30.

Abstract

Surface adhered bacterial colonies or biofilms are an important problem in medical and food industries. Bacteria use a chemical language to monitor their quorum and to express virulence factors, which eventually help them in colonization and manifestation of an infection. The LasR-LasI and RhlR-RhlI quorum-sensing (QS) systems of Pseudomonas aeruginosa control expression of virulence factors in a population density-dependent fashion. In this study we investigated the role of synthetic analogs to RhlR-RhlI system of P. aeruginosa strains (PAO-1; wild-type and mutants JP-1, PDO-100, and JP-2) responsible for production of acyl-homoserine lactones-2; butanol homoserine lactone (AHL-2; C(4)-HSL). We synthesized double (QS1207) and single (QS0108) sulfur analogs against (C(4)-HSL; AHL-2), an autoinducer of Pseudomonas QS system. Extensive biological investigation of these analogs suggested a growth promoting activity for these analogs in Pseudomonas controlling biofilm production and exo-protease secretion. We hypothesized that these thiolactone analogs could be potentially utilized as potent drug-delivery vehicles against biofilm-producing pathogens. As a proof of principle we conjugated the single sulfur analog QS0108 with the broad-spectrum antibiotic, ciprofloxacin (QS0108-Cip). The QS analog-antibiotic conjugate was significantly more effective at disrupting both the nascent and mature biofilms of P. aeruginosa than the free antibiotic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biofilms
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Pharmaceutical Vehicles
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / growth & development
  • Pyocyanine / genetics
  • Quorum Sensing / drug effects*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Vehicles
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Pyocyanine